Page 36 of Collateral Claim
“Even if I were a surgeon, I can’t get involved in your business. I could lose my license.”
Endo shows me his teeth. “Youwillhelp him.”
If I give in to his demands, he’ll steamroll over me. He never asked. He demanded that I help his friend, which I can’t. When I say I’m not qualified, I mean it. In fact, very few surgeons are qualified to perform such high-risk surgeries.
Not to mention, I can’t risk my future, since my work is everything to me. I love my job. It would devastate me to lose the right to practice medicine.
“He needs a hospital. A team of professionals.”
Endo moves to the bench and picks up a towel. He shakes it out, unfolding it. Clearly, he wants me to get out of the bath and do what he needs me to do. “Are you suggesting what I think you are?” he asks.
I frown. “Probably not.”
“Didn’t think so. Because when you say he needs a hospital and a team, I’m thinking of holding an entire hospital hostage while a team of surgeons operates on Marquis.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I won’t have to if you operate on him.”
“Are you serious?”
He shakes out the towel. “Get out of the bath, Scarlett.”
I dunk under the water. When I come up, Endo is all but fuming.
“I bet Marquis isn’t even conscious.”
“He’s not.”
“Then he can’t consent to the procedure.”
“I don’t care.”
“I care. He’s married, isn’t he? Let’s call his husband.”
“Philip thinks it’s a minor flesh wound. And you won’t tell him otherwise.”
“What will you do if Marquis dies on the table, huh? Because I’m no surgeon. And even if I were, surgery is a team effort. I need an anesthesiologist, nurses, staff with monitors, etc. A bullet stuck inside a body isn’t something I can put a bandage over.” Angry, I climb out of the spa.
Endo sucks in a breath.
I stand in front of him with my hand outstretched, waiting for him to pass me the towel. He’s staring. Not even blinking, and there’s heat in his gaze. Endo finds me attractive enough to render him speechless. I take that as a compliment.
He’s a beautiful man who has been with beautiful women. Probably many of them, while I’ve been with a handful of partners who scratched the itch. I didn’t commit to celibacy. It just happened because studies took over my life. Relationships were distractions I couldn’t afford in med school.
I try to snatch the towel.
Endo tucks it behind his back and steps forward until my wet body dampens his clothes.
I open my mouth to protest, but he covers my hair with the towel and dries it. Strong fingers massage my scalp. We’re so close that I can see the chestnut-brown flecks in his obsidian eyes.
I open my mouth so I have something to do with it besides kiss him, but Endo shakes his head, telling me without words that we should remain standing here in silence. Maybe he fears the moment will dissipate when I talk. He’s right. I want to ruin the moment. It’s intimate. Daring. Irreversible if allowed to continue.
Endo holds my gaze while he moves the towel over my shoulders, my arms, down my back, then the front.
He squeezes my breasts, but moves on to drying my belly right after that. When he drops to one knee to dry my legs, I suck in a breath. Endo still holds my gaze, but now he’s kneeling with his face near my middle. He’s stirring all kinds of butterflies in my belly. Elsewhere too.
“What if I said the hell with my brother and kept you for myself?”
